ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING

& DISINFECTION

M.T.MAREMA
PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL OFFICER (EH)
TUTUME DHMT
22- FEB 2022

IPC COMMITTEE TRAINING

BODIBA LODGE - TUTUME
OUTLINE
 Definitions
 Purposes of environmental cleaning
 Environmental cleaning in the context of COVID-19
 Principles of environmental cleaning
 Cleaning supplies and equipment
 Spills Management
 Routine monitoring and feedback
 Fumigation in covid 19
DEFINITIONS
• Cleaning
• Sanitizing
• Disinfection
• Sterilization
• Decontamination
Cleaning
• Use of water & detergent
• Mechanical action
• Visible soiling/dirt
• Reduces microbes
Disinfection
• Eliminates pathogens all
pathogens but 1
• Not bacterial spores
Sanitizing
• Reduces pathogens to
acceptable PH levels
Sterilization
• Annihilates all forms of
microbial life
• Sterilizer/autoclave
• Chemical/physical
Importance of environmental cleaning
• One of the IPC Standard Precautions
• Cuts transmission of disease
• Prevents cross-contamination from inanimate objects
• Most pathogens exist in the environmental surfaces
• Most pathogens susceptible to env. Cleaning &
disinfection
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CLEANING
• 1st step is cleaning
• Neutral Cleaning detergent so not to affect disinfectant
• Preparation according to manufacturer’s instructions
• Correct dosages/concentration
• From least to most contaminated
• From higher to lower levels
• From low touch to high touch surfaces
• From general patient area to isolation area
• Discard solutions after each use
• Avoid mists/aerosols dust generating activities
• Routine microbiological monitoring
Environmental cleaning supplies and equipment

• Neutral detergent (pH 6-8)

• Easily soluble water
• For Surface cleaning: color coded cloths
can be cotton or microfiber
• Floor cleaning: mop heads or floors cloths
can be used (cotton or microfiber)
▫ Two or three-buckets needed, depending
on need for floor disinfection
 HOUSEKEEPING CODING SYSTEM
COLOUR CODE SERVICE AREAS
Red Ablution Areas- bathroom, shower, toilets)
Yellow Isolation
Blue Offices, cubicles
Green Kitchen
 ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING SAFETY

•Training on donning & doffing

•Appropriate PPE:
▫Rubber gloves
▫Plastic apron
▫ closed boots
 BUCKET AND CLOTH TECHNIQUE
STEP 2-clean
the surface
STEP 1 Wet cloth in
bucket of soapy water
and wring out STEP 3 Place soiled
Bucket 1-soap+water cloth in collection bucket
or linen bag
Bucket 2-cloth collection

STEP 6 Place soiled

cloth in collection
STEP 4 Wet clean cloth in
bucket or linen bag
bucket disinfectant and wring
Bucket 2-cloth
out
collection
Bucket 3-disinfectant

STEP 5
disinfect
the surface

To prevent contamination and maintain efficacy of the disinfectant, change the disinfectant
solution and gloves if soiled.
EXAMPLE OF CLEANING FLOOR
Sample recommended cleaning frequency (Liberia)
Item Frequency
Surfaces • At least twice daily
(floors, tables, chairs) • When visibly soiled
Medical equipment • After every patient
(axillary thermometers)

Plates and utensils • After every patient

Reusable PPE • After procedures
(aprons, boots) • After exiting an isolation area
• When visibly soiled

Linen and mattresses • After every patient

• When visibly soiled
Sample recommended cleaning frequency (Liberia)
Place Frequency
Screening area • At least twice daily
• After a patient with a suspected infectious
disease
Isolation area • At least once daily
• After every patient
Non-Patient care • Daily
areas
Latrines/toilets • At least twice daily
• When visibly soiled
All areas • Immediately following possible
contamination with blood or bodily fluids
Management of spills
o Put up a spillage sign
o PPE, including gloves as a minimum, must be worn
when cleaning spills.
o Contain the spill
o Wipe the area with a paper towel
o Clean and disinfect
 Fast acting SoChlor NaDCC (Sodium dichloroisocyanurate)
Granules absorb the liquid while releasing a powerful disinfectant which
kills pathogens contained in the spillage
 ROUTINE MONITORING AND FEEDBACK

Use these methods:

- Performance observation
- Visual assessment
- Fluorescent markers (e.g., UV visible

- Environmental cultures (agar plate, swab)